Automatic aerial wire-rope tramway.



PATENTED NOV. I, 1904.

H. J. LESGHBII. 4 AUTOMATIC AERIAL WIRE ROPE T-RAMWAY.

APPLICATION FILED DEU- 7. 1903.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

l PATBNTED Nov. 1, 1904. II. I. LBSGHBN. y AUTOMATIC AERIAL WIRE ROPETRAMWAY.

APPLICATION FILED 10110.?. 1903.

- BBHBETS-SHEBT 2.

N0 MODEL.

No. 773,656. PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

' H. J. LESOHEN. u

AUTOMATIC AERIAL WIRE ROPE TRAMWAY.

APPLIOATION FILED DEG. 7. 190s.

No MODEL. ssamm-SHEET s.

PATENTED NOV. l, 1904.

H. J. LBSGHEN. AUTOMATICAERIAL WIRE ROPE TRAMWAY.

APPLICATION FILED DBC.7. 1903.

yN0 MODEL.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

MUN.

No. 773,656. PATENTED NOV. l, 1904. H. J. LESCHEN. AAUTOMATIC AERIALWIRE ROPE TRAMWAY.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 7. 190s.

N0 MODEL. v Y 8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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-PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

H. J. LESCHEN. AUTOMATIC AERIAL WIRE ROPE TRAMWAY.

SHEETS-SHEET e.

APPLIOATIDN FILED DEC. 7. 1903.

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PATENTBD Nov. 1, 1904.

H. J. LESCHEN.

AUTOMATIC AERIAL WIR'E ROPE TRAMWAY.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. '1. 1903.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 74 N0 MODEL.

orcy.

No. 773,656. PATENTED Nov. 1, 1904.

H. J. .LESGHBN l AUTOMATIC AERIAL WIRE ROPE TRAMWAY.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 7. 1903.

N0 MODEL. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

Patented November 1, 1904.

Trice.

PATENT i HARRY J. LESCHEN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO THE-A.LESOHEN AND SONS ROPE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, .MISSOURL A CORPORATION OFMISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC AERIAL WIRE-ROPE TRAIVIWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,656, dated November1, 1904.

Application led December 7, 1903. Serial No. 184,178. (No model.)

To r/JZ whom, t Duty cori/cern:

Be it known that I, HARRY J. LEscHEN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic AerialTire-Rope Tramwaysg' and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompan ying' drawings, and to the iigu resof reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic aerial wire-ropetramways; and the objects of the invention are, first, to provide meansfor automatically retarding' and stopping each bucket at the loading anddumping stations; second, to provide means for starting and graduallyaccelerating each bucket at the loading and dumping stations; third, toprovide in those tramways in which the buckets are automaticallyattachedto and released from the running or traction rope and in which thebuckets are gradually retarded and brought to a stop at the loading anddumping stations and are picked up, started, and accelerated andattached to the runningrope means for starting and for graduallyaccelerating the stationary or standing buckets enough faster than thespeed at which the incoming' buckets are traveling at from the timetheyare released and are brought to astop to prevent the incoming bucketfrom striking the standing bucket before it can be moved out of thestanding' or dumping stations; fourth, to provide a bucket starting andaccelerating device. that will permit the use of buckets of very largecarrying capacity and that will permit the standing bucket to be startedand gradually accelerated at the same relative speedthat the incomingbucket is being gradually retarded and brought to a stop; lifth, toprovide means for positively gripping' and holding a bucket at theloading and dumping stations. I attain these objects by the mechanismillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in'which* Figure l is a planView of the dumping terminal of an aerial wire tramway equipped with myimproved bucket starting and accelerating device.' Fig. 2 is a side viewthereof, showing two buckets in the terminal, one of which is inposition to be released by the clip, while the other is at rest and isengaged by the dumping mechanism preparatory to being dumped. Fig'. 3 isa transverse sectional view of the terminal on the line 3 3 of Fig. l,showing a bucket in a position just prior to its release from the dip ofthe running-rope. proved bucket starting and accelerating mechanism.showing the same in a reverse position to that illustrated in Fig. l,the main actuatinglines being arranged to stand at right angles to thedirection of the terminal when at the limit of their movement instead ofat slight inclination thereto, as illustrated in Fig. l, the terminalbeing omitted for the sake of clearness. Fig. 5 is a front elevation ofthe mechanism shown in Fig. 4, the tracks and a portion of the terminalbeing shown. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the clip-actuated dogs and theirsupporting-slide, the said dogs being engaged by the traction-rope clipas it escapes from one bucket and being moved by the clip until saidclip engages another bucket. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the same.Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan View of the terminal, showing' the slidesand the bucket-operating levers in normal position in full lines andy ata point in their operative movement in dotted lines. Fig. 9 is aperspective view taken from the rear of the sliding frame which supportsthe dogs, showing the same mounted upon a track-flange of the clip-guideand showing the lugs at the rear ends of the dogs which contact with thesliding frame and hold the dogs in their normal position. Fig. l0 is aperspective view of a sliding frame upon which is pivotally mounted astop-arm and dog which constitute the forwardl bucket reeeiver andcarrier. Fig. 1l is a side eleva- Fig. 4t is a plan View of my irn- Ation of the stop-arm of the forward bucket receiver and carrier. Fig. 12is a plan view thereof. Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the dog whichacts in conjunction with the stoplever to hold and carry the bucket.Fig.- 14 is a plan view thereof. Figs. 15, 16, and 17 are respectively aplan view, an end elevation, and a front elevation of the sliding frameto which the stop-lever and dog are pivoted. Fig. 18 is a perspectiveview of the rear bucket-mover and sliding frame to which it is pivotallyattached. Fig. 19 is a vertical sectional view through the sliding frameshown in Fig. 18 and bucket-moving hook, showing the pivotal connectionof the hook with the frame. Fig. 2() is a plan view of the lower memberor channel-bar of the clipguide, showing a spring-controlled triggerpivoted to the under side thereof, the same being to prevent thebackward movement of the bucket after it has been moved to its dumpingposition. Fig. 21 is a front elevation of the same, showing an angle-barsecured to the under side of the channel-bar to which is secured thetrigger-actuating spring. Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the triggerdetached. Fig. 23 is a transverse sectional view through thechannel-bar, showing the trigger, spring, and angle-bar in endelevation. Fig. 24 is a side elevation of a weightcontrolled swingingstop-arm against which the bucket strikes and is stopped on being movedto its dumping position. Fig. 25 is an end view of the same. Fig. 26 isa plan view of the same, clearly showing a hunger-spring secured to thearm and a staple to which one end of a weighted cord or cable isintended to be attached. Fig. 27 is a perspective view of thebucket-pendant, showing the mechanism for holding and releasing therope-clip. Fig. 28 is a transverse sectional view through the same onthe line 28 28 of Fig. 27. Figs. 29 and 80 are side'views of the slidewhich operates the dogs of the gripping mechanism, and thus locks therope-clip to the bucketpendant or releases the same therefrom; and Fig.81 is a plan view of the clip. Fig. 32 is a sectional view through thesliding frame which supports the dogs and through the clip-guide of theterminal, a portion of the bucket-pendant being shown in connectiontherewith and a clip in the act of being released from the pendant andengaging one of the aforesaid dogs.

Similar figures of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring' to the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate,respectively, a plan View, a side elevation, and a transverse sectionalView of the dumping terminal of an aerial wire-rope tramway. Theterminals are designated as loading" and dumping terminals and may beplaced any distance apart from a few hundred feet to several miles.These terminals are connected by stationary or track ropes, upon whichthe trolleys of the buckets travel, and by a running ortraction rope, towhich are secured at suitable intervals clips` which are designed toengage a suitable grip carried by the bucket-pendants, so that the saidbuckets may be moved thereb v. The traction-rope is an endlesscontinuous running-rope and passes around a suitable horizontallydisposed gripping wheel mounted in the outer end of. each terminal,while the track-ropes are connected to and at the entrance or rear endof each terminal, where they are suitably anchored, and a metal track isconnected to the stationary or track ropes and is substituted therefor,which eX- tends along each side of the terminal and around its outer endin a semicircle concentric with the gripping-wheel. The traction andtrack ropes are supported at intervals between the terminals by towers,which are provided with saddles on which sheaves y are mounted on whichthe traction and track ropes are supported and run at suitable distancesabove the ground.

My present invention relates to` improvements in that type of aerialwire-rope vtramways known as automatic tramways and directly to the typeof tramways embodied in Patent No. 666,267, issued January 22, 1901, inwhich type of tramway the buckets are automatically attached anddetached to and from the traction-rope and are automatically retarded inspeed and brought to a stop and are then dumped at a point called thestopping-station7 and are then started and again engaged by a clip andcarried around the loading terminal and out on the stationary or trackrope to the opposite terminal, where they are again detached, retarded,stopped, and loaded, and again picked up and carried to the dumpingterminal. The bucket stopping-station may be either a loading or adumping station, as while material, such as ore or coal, may be loadedat the mine at one terminal and dumped at the other terminal suppliesmay also be loaded at the dumping terminal and carried up to the loadingterminal.

In the system mentioned in the above-mentioned patent it has been foundin practice that the accelerating device will only permit buckets to beused that will hold at the most live cubic feet of material. This sizeof bucket is the largest that can be used with that tramway, and it isof ample capacity for conveying ores and heavy material, and the tramwayembodied in the above-mentioned patent is in extensive practical use andwith this size of bucket works to perfection. When, however, a largetonnage of a light-weight material, such as coal, is to be moved by atramway, it is necessary to use `buckets that will IOO IIO

buckets before they are started and moved out of the standing, loading,or dumping stations, and it is essential in order to use theselarger-capacity buckets to prove a bucket-accelerating' device that willpick up, start, and accelerate buckets of-any size that it is practicalto use on aerial wire-rope tramways without their interfering with oneanother.

As both terminals are alike in their bucketoperating mechanism andexcept as to their bucket loading and dumping mechanism, a descriptionof one will suffice for both, and I have preferably illustrated thedumping terminal.

Each terminal comprises a suitable framework constructed of heavytimbers.

The numeral 1 refers to the sills, 2 to three pairs of longitudinalties, the lower pair of which rests upon the sills, while the middle andupper pair are supported b v posts 3. Upon the middle and upper pair ofties are secured at intervals cross-beams 4 and 5, respectively, to theouter ends of which are secured brackets 6 and 7, to which are boltedmetal tracks 8 and 9. The ends of the upper track 9, which terminate atthe entrance of the terminal, have secured thereto saddles 10, which arealso secured to a cross-bar 11,' forming part of the framework of theterminal. Track-ropes 12, extending from-the opposite terminal, passover these saddles, and their ends are securely anchored into theframework of the terminal. This track extends on each side of theterminal and is curved around its opposite end in a semicircleconcentric with, but a suitable distance above a rope-gripping sheave13, which is keyed upon a shaft 14, journaled in bearings secured to theframework of the terminal. The tracks 9 and track-ropes 12 thus form acontinuous track from one terminal to the other. The lower tracks 8extend a suitable distance on each side of the terminal, though theycontinue entirely around the same as the upper-tracks, if desired. Theobject of these tracks is to guide the buckets as they enter theterminal and to keep them from swinging from the time they enter theterminal until after they have been automatically` dumped, as willhereinafter be fully set forth.

An endless traction-rope 15 enters on each side of the terminal, passingunder sheaves 16 and extending around the gripping-sheave 13 at theopposite end of the terminal. To this rope are attached at intervalssuitable clips 17, comprising eyes 18, which encircle the rope and aresecurely clamped thereon, and a stem 19, extending from the eyes, theouter end of which is formed with a circular head 20, which engages thebucket-grip, as will presently appear. It is necessary that the clipshall be maintained in a horizontal position and be prevented fromswerving either up of down from the time it enters the terminal andescapes from the bucket-grip until it picks up another bucket at theopposite end of the terminal, and this is accomplished by a clip-guide21, which is supported midway between the tracks 8 and 9 by metal strips22, which are secured to the said tracks and to which the said clipguideis bolted. This clip-guide comprises a lower member 23 in the form of anordinary channel-bar and an upper member 24, which I term a Z-bar, owingvto its shape in cross-section. This Z-bar is arranged so that one ofits vertical members shall run parallel with the outside vertical memberof the channel-bar but a slight distance above the same, leavinga narrowspace or slot through which the stem of the'clip will pass, while itsother vertical member forms a track 24A, upon which are mountedsuitably-constructed slides 25, 26, and 27. The slide 25 I term thebucket-receiving slide, the slide 26 I term the "clip-operated slide,and the slide 27 I term the "bucketstarting and accelerating slide. Theslides 25 and 27 carry mechanism which respectively effects the stoppingand starting again of the bucket, while the slide 26 is moved apredetermined distance forward by each clip as it passes through thevclip-guide and effects the movement of the slides 25 and 27 through asystem of levers which are connected together and to the several slides,as will be fully explained.

Adjacent to each end of the terminal and on that side at which thebuckets enter I secure a pair of brackets 28 and 29, the brackets 28being secured one above the other near the entrance end of the terminal,while the brackets 29 are secured in the same way near the opposite endof the terminal. The upper brackets 28 and 29 of each pair are bolted toone of the upper longitudinal ties 2, while the lower brackets of eachpair are bolted to one of the middle ties. Vertical shafts 30 and 30Arespectively connect the brackets at each end of the terminal, and uponthe shaft 30 of the brackets 28 is supported a lever 31, which Ivterm anLabutment-lever and which in the present instance is of a length toextend to the opposite sideof the terminal. This lever is prevented fromsagging by an arm 32, which is secured to its under side about midway ofits length and is supported at its other end upon the shaft 30, whichpasses through the end of the lever 31 and its supporting-arm. The lever31 lies just below the upper pair of ties and has a swinging movement ina hori- Zontal plane. The lever 31 about midway of its length is formedwith lateral extensions 33 and 34, and to the extension 33 is pivotedone end of a lever 35, the other end of which is pivoted between ears36, which are an integral part of the slide 25. The end of the lever 35which is pivoted to the extension 33 of lever 3l is curved horizontally,its curved portion being substantiatly at right angles to IIO the lengthof the lever. This curved end of the lever is provided with a slot 37,which extends a short distance into the straight part of the lever, anda suitable bolt or pin 38 passes through the slot and through theextension 33 and secures the lever to the extension in such a mannerthat it has a free sliding movement thereon 'to the extent of the lengthof its slot 37. A short lever 39 is pivoted at one end of the lever 35slightly beyond its center, and the opposite end of this short lever ispivoted to the lateral extension 34 of the lever 31. To the extremity ofthe lever 31 is pivoted one end of a lever 40, the opposite end of whichis secured betweena pair of ears 41, which are an integral part of theslide 26, a similar pair of ears 4l" being formed on the other end ofthe slide.

Upon the shaft 30" of the brackets 29 is pivoted a lever 31" in allrespects similar to the lever 31, being provided with a supportingarm32" and having lateral extensions 33" and 34", and to the extension 33"is pivoted one end of a lever 35". The end of the lever 35A which ispivoted to the extension 33A is curved and provided with a slot 37"similar to the lever 35, before mentioned, and this curved end securedupon the extension 33A by a bolt or pin 38", which passes through theslot and through the extension, the opposite end of the lever beingpivoted between ears 36", which form au integral part of the slide 27.The lever 35A is further connected to the lever 31" by a short lever39", which is pivoted at one end to the lever 35A beyond its center andat its other end to the extension 34A of the lever 31". To the extremityof the lever 31A is pivoted one end of a lever 40", the opposite end ofwhich is pivoted between the ears 41" of the slide 26. The two sets oflevers are thus identical in construction and operate in the samemanner, both beingI actuated by the slide 26, which is carried by theclips as they pass through the clip-guide, as will presently be fullydescribed.

The slide 25 (see Figs. 15, 16, and 17) comprises front and rea-r plates42 and 43, respectively, to the ends of which are formed integral hooksor hangers 44, which slide upon the track 24" of the clip-guide. Thesehangers are retained in engagement with the track by lugs 45, whichproject from the rear plate 43 of the slide and lie beneath the track. Ahub 46 is formed centrally of the front plate 43, having a bore 47, inwhich a hollow spindle 48 is journaled. To the outer end of the spindleis rigidly secured one end of an arm 49, which l term a stop-arm. Theouter end of this arm is bent inwardly at right angles to form aprojection, as shown at 50, and a horizontal plate 51 extends outwardlyfrom the upper edge of this end of the arm a short distance and has astop 52 formed thereon by bending the plate down at right angles, asshown. The rear edge of this stop is vertically disposed, and from thelower end of this edge the metal is curved to the upper forward end. Theprojection 50 is designed to engage a suitable trip 50". When the slide25 reaches the limit of its forward movement, the pro-A jection 50 willride up the inclined face of the trip, and thus raise the arm 49 andrelease a bucket, as will be fully hereinafter explained. A dog 53operates in connection with the stop 52 to hold the bucket. This dogcomprises an arm the forward portion of which is formed with arearwardly-inclined plate 54, which lies in the pathway of an abutment54" on the bucket-pendant. A stem 55 is rigidly secured in any suitablemanner near the rear end of the arm of the dog, and this stern is of adiameter to fit within the hollow spindle of the stop-arm, so that thedog and stop-arm will lie side by side, the stop-arm being slightly thelonger. lVhen in this position, the dog and stop-arm are secured withinthe hub of the slide 25 by a set-screw 56 in the top edge ofthe plate42, which enters the bore 47 of the hub and which passes through a slot57 near the end of the hollow spindle and into a groove 58 in the stem.The stop-arm and dog are thus permitted a limited swinging movement upand down, but are prevented from becoming detached from the hub of theslide. As a bucket enters the terminal the abutment 54" will lift thedog by contacting with its inclined plate 54 and will immediatelycontact with the stop 52 and be held between the stop and dog. The dogand stop-arm are prevented from dropping below a horizontal position bya plate 59, which projects from the forward hook of the slide 25, so asto lie beneath the arms and support them. This plate is strengthened bya web 60, as shown. The rear end of the dog 53 is curved backward, asshown at 53", so as to present an inelined surface which will preventthe abutment 54 of the bucket-pendant as it passes from catching uponthe said dog.

The slide 26, Figs. 6, 7, 9, and 32, comprises a plate 61, upon each endof which is formed a hook 62, which hooks are designed to slide upon thetrack 24" of the clip-guide and are held in engagement therewith by lugs63, which project forwardly from the plate and lie beneath the track. Adepending frame or bracket 64 is formed integral with the plate 61 andcomprises end members which are connected by a bottom strip. At each endof the slide is formed a pair of ears 41 and 41", respectively, the twoupper ears being formed integral with the plate 61 and are joined by arib 66, while the lower ears are formed integral with the end members-ofthe frame 64. Each end member is formed with a hole, and through theseholes passes a pin 67, which is suitably secured in the frame and uponwhich is mounted a pair of dogs 68. These dogs are identical inconstruction and comprise a hub 69, through which the pin 67 passes, anda TOO IIO

substantially arched plate 70, which extends forward from the hub, itsextremity being formed with a downwardly-extending stop 71, the inneredge of which is vertical, while its lower edge is inclined from thevertical edge to its upper outer end. These dogs lie side by side uponthe pin 67 and extend into the clip-guide, as shown in Fig. 32, so thattheir forward ends will be in the path of the clips as they pass throughthe clip-guide. Their position is defined by lugs 72, which extendupward from the hubs and contact with the rib 66 of the plate 6l of theslide. The space between the two stops 71 is sufficient to permit thestem of the clip free movement therein. As a clip passes through theguide it contacts with the inclined edge of the stop of the first dog,raises the said dog, and passes in between the two stops, contacts withthe vertical edge of the stop of the second dog, which prevents itsescape, and thus the slide 26 is carried forward by the clip until itreaches the limit of its forward movement, when the inclined edge of theforward stop strikes a pin 7lA in the flange of the Z-bar, which raisesthe dog and permits the clip to escape.

The slide 27 is a left-hand duplicate of. slide 25 and comprises frontand rear plates 7 3 and 74, respectively, to the ends of which areformed integral hooks 75, which slide upon the track 24 of theclip-guide. These hangers are retained in engagement with the track bylugs 76, which project from the rear plate 74 of the slide and liebeneath the track. A hub 77 is formed centrally of the front plate 73,having a bore 78, in which a stem 79 is journaled. To the outer end ofthis stem is rigidly secured one end of an arm 80, which I term thebucket-starting arm. Upon the rear end of this arm is formed ahorizontal plate 8l, the rear portion of which is formed into avertically-disposed hook 82, the under edge of which is inclined upward,as shown. The forward end of the plate depends a suitable distance toform a stop 83, between which and the hook S2 the abutment 54of thebucketpendant is held when the bucket is moved from its dumping positionby the startingarm 80. This arm is prevented from dropping below ahorizontal position by a plate 84, which projects from the rear hook 75of the slide and lies beneath the arm. The arm` is prevented frombecoming disengaged from the hub of the slide by a set-screw 85 in theupper edge of the front plate73 of the slide, which enters the bore 78of the hub and projects into a circumferential slot near the end of thestern 79. The arm while thus being held in place is permitted a limitedrocking movement.

A vertical plate 86 is secured to the arm 8O between the hook 82 andstop 83. This plate extends down in front of the clip-guide and acrossthe slot through which the clips pass,

land its bottom edge is inclined upward and is -ing dumped, the slidebeing moved by the lever of the first set of levers, which is, pivotedto the lever 3l. The slide 27 moves forwardly from the point where thebucket is dumped to the opposite end of the clip-guide, 1

carrying with it an empty bucket, by means of its starting-arm 8O and ismoved by lever 35A of the second set. The slide 26 moves from a positionnear the entrance of the clip-guide and alongside the slide 25 at itsstarting-point (see Fig. l) to the opposite end of the clipguide andalongside the slide 27 at the limit of its forward movement. (See Fig.4.) The ears 4l and 41A of the slide 26 are on a lower plane than theears 36 and 36A of the slides 25 and 27, respectively, in order that atthe limit of its movement in one direction the rear pair of its ears 41,or those to which lever 40 is pivoted, may lie directly beneath the ears36 of slide 25, while at the opposite limit of its movement its forwardears 41A, or those to which lever 40A is pivoted, may lie directlybeneath the ears 36A of slide 27. The levers 40 and 4()A are eachoperated by the slide 26, which in turn is operated by the clips as theypass through the clip-guide. The lever 40 operates a set of cooperatinglevers which first retard the buckets as they enter the terminal and arereleased from the rope-clip and then bring them to a pause in positionto be engaged by the dumping mechanism, while the lever 40A operates asimilar set of levers, which effect the starting again of the bucketsafter they have been dumped and their further-movement to the forwardend of the clip-guide, where they are released from the starting-arm bya passing clip and carried around and out of the terminal by the sameclip. The movement of the two sets of levers is identical, with thisdifference: The lever 35 on its forward movement is gradually retardedwith respect to lever 40, while the lever 35A is gradually acceleratedwith respect to its lever-40A; but when the levers return to theirnormal position the reverse takes place, and lever 35A is retarded whilethe lever 35 is accelerated. This result is accomplished by the shortconnecting-levers 89 and 39A, which operate in the following manner: Asthe lever 31 moves forward the short lever 39 lwill also move lever 35,but more slowly, because until after the lever 31 reaches a point in itsforward movement when its pivotal connection with the slotted end of IOOIIO

lever and the pivotal connection of lever with levers 35 and 31 are inalinement through 4their pivotal centers the said lever 39 will exert apulling motion on lever 35, which will shorten the radius of itsmovement until the bottom end of its slot 37 will be adjacent to itspivot 38, after which as the lever reaches the limit of its movement theopposite end of the slot will be adjacent to the pivot. During thismovement of lever 35 the lever 35A is drawn quickly forward by reason ofits reverse position and that of the short lever 39", which actsdirectly upon the lever 35", causing it to slide up upon its pivot 38,thus reducing theradius in which its outer end would travel, and therebyaecelerating its movement. Thus the momentum of a bucket after beingdisengaged from a clip on entering the terminal is gradually lessened,and then the bucket is brought to a complete stop at the dumping-point,while at the same time an empty bucket is started and moved from thedumping-point forward to the end of the clip-guide, its momentum beinggradually accelerated until it acquires the speed of the running-rope,when it is released from its starting-arm and instantaneously engaged bya clip, the same clip having effected its release from the starting-arm,as will be further explained.

The mechanism for holding the bucket while being dumped is as follows:Upon the under side of the channel 23 of the clip-guide and just rear ofthe point at which the bucket comes to a standstill is bolted anangle-bar 87, (see Figs. 20, 21, 22, and 23,) its depending member beingtoward the rear of the channel. A bolt 88 passes down through the bottomof the channel and through the horizontal member of the angle-bar, itshead being countersunk, so as to lie iiush with the bottom of thechannel, and upon this bolt is pivoted a dog 89, which is held thereonby a nut 90, a washer being interposed between the angle-bar and dog andbetween the dog and the retaining-nut. The dog is bent centrally, sothat its forward end will lie on a lower plane than its rear end, and aspring 91 is bolted to the vertical member of the angle-bar, theopposite end of which bears upon the rear edge of the dog forward of itspivotal point and normally holds its forward end out a suitable distancebeyond the face of the channel, while its rear end contacts with thedepending member of the angle-bar, and thus defines the outward movementof the forward end thereof. Just forward of the outwardlyextending endof the dog 89 and on the same plane therewith lies one end of ahorizontallydisposed arm 92, (see Figs. 24, 25, and 26,) which is formedof an angle-bar whose depending member is on the side next to the dog.This arm is braced by a supporting-arm 93, which is bolted thereto nearthe outer end thereof and extends downwardly and rearwardly, its endlying beneath the rear end of arm 92. The rear ends of these arms 92 and93 are provided with circular apertures 94, and a rod 95 is passed downthrough these apertures and through brackets 96 and 97, which aresecured to an upright 98 on one of the longitudinal ties 2 of theterminal structure. The upright 98 does not extend high enough toobstruct the movement of the levers which operate the slides 25, 26, and27. A staple 99 is bolted to the forward end of armv 92, and a rope orcable 100 is attached thereto and extends back to and partially around asheave 101 on shaft 30, which supports lever 31. Thence the cable passesover a sheave 102 and downward a short distance, when its endis madefast to one end of a heavy chain 103, the other end of which is securedtothe terminal structure. A spring 104 is bolted to the side of the arm92A, and the forward end of this spring normally rests against the endof the angle-plate 87, to which the dog 89 is pivoted. It will be seenthat the arm has a swinging movement in the direction of movement of thebuckets, but that it is normally heldin the position shown in Fig. 4, orso that its spring 104 shall contact with the angleplate 87, the weightof chain 103 holding it in this position, When a bucket is moved to thedumping position, an abutment 54B on its pendant will contact with thedog 89, which will be moved back and permit the bucket to pass.Immediately on passing the dog the said dog will be instantly thrown outby its spring, and thus prevent the rearward movement of the bucket, andat the same time the bucket will be caught by the end of the arm 92,which will swing slightly and relieve the bucket of any jar, but will bereturned to its normal position by means of the weight of the chain 103.The bucket will thus be held between the dog 89 and arms 92 while beingdumped; but the arm 92 will not prevent the bucket being carried forwardby the arm 80 on slide 27, as it will swing to one side and permit thebucket to escape, and when it returns to its normal position its spring104 will strike the angle-plate 87 and act as a buffer.

The gripping mechanism (see Figs. 27 and 28) which engages therope-clips 17, by which the buckets are propelled, is secured to thependants 105, to the lower ends of which the buckets 106 are pivotallyattached, while their upper ends carry a suitable trolley 107, whichruns on the track-rope 12 and track 9. 108 is secured upon the pendantabout midway between the bucket and trolley and on the side adjoiningthe clip-guide 21. The ends of this bar are curved outward, andlongitudinal slots 109 are formed in the bar, one on each side of itscenter. A housing 110 is formed upon the center portion of the bar,comprising a pair of angle-plates, one of which is secured to the upperedge of the bar, while the other is secured to the lower edge thereof,their ver- IOO TIO

IIS

tical members extending toward each other, but not meeting, therebyleaving a space or slot, as shown. This housing is open at each end,while its sides are formed by the bar and by the vertical members of theangleplates, and it is of suiiicient depth to permit the clip to passfreely through. Dogs 111 and 112 are pivoted in the slots 109, each doghaving a head which extends out into the housing, there being a spacebetween their heads great enough to allow the head oi' the clip freemovement between the said dogs. The outer faces of the dogs inclineoutward from near their pivotal points to their free ends, and the freeends of the dogs extend back through the slots, and stems 113 and 114are formed on these extensions which are parallel with the bar 108 andextend to within a short distance of each other. These stems passthrough slots 115 and 116 in opposite sides of a slide 117, which hasvertical movement on a bar 118, which is connected to the bar 108 and toa cross-brace 119, connecting the arms of the pendant above the bucket.The slots 115 and 116 are so formed thatwhen the slide 117 is at thelimit of its downward movement both dogs will be locked, so as to holdthe head of the clip between them. /Vhen midway between its upward anddownward limit, the dog 111 can be moved back, so as to be entirely outof the housing, its stem 113 being i'ree to move in the widened portionof slot 115, while the dog 112 is still locked; but when the slide ismoved to the limit oi' its upward' movement the dog 111 may still bemoved back, while the dog 112is automatically moved by the angle portionof slot 116, which engages stem 114 and holds the said dog back, so asto permit the clip to pass out oi' the housing. The dog 111 is normallyheld out by a spring 111A, while the dog 112 is operated altogether byslot 116 of the slide.

A pin 120 projects from the back of the slide 117, which engages asuitable guideway 121, to be presently described` by which the slide ismoved up or down. When a bucket enters the terminal, the housing of thegrip is on the same plane with the clip-guide, and the bucket is keptfrom swinging by a hook 122, which is secured near the lower end of thevertical bar 118 and which engages the track 8.

The abutments 54A and 54B are formed, respectively, upon the upper andlower plates of the grip-housing and are suitably secured to the bar118.

The guideway 121 comprises a pair of rods which are secured at theirextremities to trusses 123, which are bolted to the terminal structure.These trusses are substantially semicircular metal arms which extendover the tracks 9 and down a short distance below the plane of theclip-guide and a suitable distance therefrom. The upper rod of theguideway extends from the truss adjacent to the entrance of the terminalto about half-way to the opposite truss and on a plane above the slot ofthe clip-guide. It then dips down at an angle of thirty degrees until itis on a plane with the upper edge of the said clip-guide slot and iscontinued on this plane until within a short distance of the rear truss,when it takes a slight dip and is secured to the truss. The lower rod ofthe guideway is secured to the lower end of the first-mentioned trussand inclines upward at an angle oi' thirty degrees,

as shown at 124,to within a short distance ofthe upper rod, and fromthis point it runs parallel with the upper rod throughout the remainderof its length and is secured at'its end to the opposite truss. Vhere theguideway-rods run parallel, they are just far enough apart to allow thepin 120 oi' the slide 117 to pass easily between them. It will thus beseen that when a bucket enters the terminal the pin 120 will strike theincline 124 of the guideway, and the slide 117 will thereby be raised toits highest point, thus releasing both of the grip-dogs. The slide willcontinue in this position until the bucket reaches the point where theguideway dips downward, where the slide will be moved to itsintermediate position, when dog 112 will be locked in itsbucket-holding'position and dog 111 will remain unlocked. This portionof the guideway is where the bucket comes to a pause and is dumped. Fromthis point the slide remains in the same position until within a shortdistance of the end of the guideway, when another dip in said guidewaymoves the slide to the limit of its downward movement and `locks bothdogs again. The parts constituting the grip will then remain in therelative position just described until the bucket reaches theloading-terminal, when the operation above mentioned will be repeated.

The dumping mechanism comprises a pair ot' vertically-disposed arms 125,arranged a suitable distance apart and connected at their upper ends bya rod 126, which is outwardly curved at each end. This rod is designedto engage a pin 127 upon the bottom of the bucket, so as thereby to dumpsaid bucket in a manner to be presently described. The arms 125 arepivotall y connected about midway ot' their length to a pair of arms128, which extend outward therefrom and are pivoted at their oppositeends to a suitable support or bracket 129. The lower ends of the arms125 are pivoted to horizontally-disposed arms 130, which at theiropposite ends are pivoted to brackets 131, bolted to the terminalstructure. A rope 132 is secured at one end to one oi' the arms 125 andpasses thence around suitably-positioned pulleys 133, so as to be outoil the path of the levers 40 and 40", which operate the slides 25 and27, and thence around one of a pair of pulleys a and mounted on asliding carriage 134, which moves in TOO ways 135, suitably secured tothe terminal structure a short distance forward of the ropegrippingsheave. After passing around the pulleys c the rope extends forward ashort distance and is secured to the terminal. One end of a rope 136passes around the pulley b of the carriage and extends rearward a shortdistance, passing around a pulley 137, after which it extends forward ashort distance and is secured to the terminal. The opposite end of thisrope extends rearward from pulley to one end of an arm 138, the oppositeend of which is pivoted to the outer end of an arm 139, having a hub atits opposite end which lits loosely upon the upper end of the shaft ofthe rope-gripping sheave. The under surface of this hub is formed into aclutch-face 140, which at a predermined time is designed to be engagedbya similar clutchface 141, which is rigidly secured to the shaft of thegripping-sheave.

A suitable cam 142 is formed on the rear side of the hub of the upperclutch 146, and this clutch is normally held out of engagement with thelower clutch by a rod 143, having a sliding movement in a bracket 144,secured to the terminal. Oneend of this rod normally lies beneath thecam 142 and holds the upper clutch raised out of engagement with thelower clutch, while its opposite end is pivoted to one end of a lever145, pivoted about centrally of its length to the bracket 144, itsopposite end being pivoted to one end of an arm 146, which extends atright angles to the direction of the lever and is connected at itsopposite end to a spring-arm 147, which is extended thence out over thetracks 9 in the pathway of the bucket-trolleys, its opposite end beingsecured to the terminal. Thus a trolley in passing will bend the springin, which will rock lever 145 and draw rod 143 from beneath cam 142,when arm 139 will drop and clutch 140 will be engaged by clutch 141,thus revolving' arm 139, to which is pivoted arm 138, to which one endof rope 136 is secured. The pivotal arrangement of arm 138 will cause analmost direct pull on rope 136, and carriage 134 will be drawn rearward,thus drawing upon rope 132, which will move the d umping-levers to theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and effect the dumping of thebucket.

In order to provide for the varying' tension upon the traction-rope, dueto expansion and contraction from heat and cold, the portion 148 of theterminal upon which the shaft 14 is journaled telescopes with the mainportion of the terminal, and the track 9 is spliced on either side, asshown at 9", so that the parts may slide one upon the other. Rollers 149are secured to the lower portion of the movable frame, which ride upontracks 150, secured upon the lower ties 2, and facilitate the movementof the said frame. A cable 151 is secured to the movable frame adjacentto the lower end of the shaft 14, which cable passes over a pulley 152and is provided with a heavy weight at its other end. This weight willexert a constant tension on the traction-rope through the movableportion of the terminal and keep the said rope evenly taut under allconditions.

The operation of the invention is as follows: Assuming that a bucket isat the dumping station and has been dumped and that an empty bucket ispassing around the terminal, a loaded bucket will then be entering theterminal, and the pin 120 of the grip-slide 117 will ride up the incline124 of the guideway 121 and release the dogs in the manner previouslydescribed, when the rope-clip will escape from the grip. The abutment54A of the grip will at this juncture be caught between the dog 53 andstop 52 of slide 25, while the clip as it escapes from the grip willimmediately engage the dogs of slide 26, which lies alongside the slide25, and will carry it forward. This forward movement of the slide 26will operate levers 40 and 40A, which are attached to the slide, andwill operate their cooperating' levers 31 and 35 and 31A and 35. Thelever 35 will carry the slide 25 and bucket to the dumping position,where the grip-abutment 54B will be caught between the dog 89 and arm92, and simultaneously the projection 50 on stop-arm 49 will engage thetrip 50 and allow the bucket to escape the stop 52. At the same time theslide 25 started forward with its loaded bucket the slide 27 was at thedumping-station and thehook 82 of its arm 80 engaged the grip-abutment54A of an empty bucket. This slide starts simultaneously with slide 25by its lever 35A, draws the bucket from behind the swinging arm 92, andcarries it to the rear end of the clip-guides. As it arrives at thispoint the slide 26, which is carried by the clip, will arrivesimultaneously, and the stem of the clip will pass beneath the plate 86of the arm 80, raise the said arm, and permit the abutment 54A to escapethe stop 83 of the arm, and as the clip raises the arm it at the sametime passes into the bucket-grip. Just as the clip raises the arm 80 andpasses into the bucketgrip the forward dog 68 of slide 26 engages thepin 71A on the inside of the clipguide, which raises the dog' andpermits the clip to pass on, carrying the empty bucket with it. Theleverslare then returned to their normal position by means of a rope153, which is attached to lever 35 and which passes back and around apulley 154 on vertical shaft 30, which supports lever 31. Thence itpasses over a pulley 155 and extends down a suitable distance, its endbeing attached to one end of a heavy cable or chain 156, which isattached at its other end to the terminal, the cable acting as a weightwhich draws upon the rope and returns the arms to their normal position.As the slide 27 reaches the dumping-station y dom of movement to passthe centers ot' the levers 39 and 39, as well as control the movement ofthe levers 35 and 35A, to successively retard the movement of and stopthe incoming buckets, as these pins reciprocally slide in them and inconjunction with the levers 39 and 39A actuate the levers 35 and 35A toretard the buckets as theycome into the terminal, as when the levers 40and 40" are' in their normal position of disuse these right-angled slotsare above the levers 39 and 39A, as shown at the right ot` Fig. 8; butwhen they are eX- tended to the ends ot their operative movementthey arebelow the levers 39 and 39A, as shown at the left in Fig. 8. When thelevers 40 and 0^ tirst start to make an operative stroke, they arecaught and moved with a jerk by the incoming clips, and the pins 38 and38A move at first toward their respective slides 25 and 2T, while thelevers 35 and 35A start much slower, as they are pushed by the levers 39and 39A and the levers 31 and 31"; but after the levers 40 and 40A havetraveled a portion of their movement the pins 38 and 38 reverse thedirection ot' their movement in the right-angled slots and move in themtoward the outer right-angled free end of the levers 35 and 35A.

Having described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secureby Lett ers Patent, is-

l. In an automatic tramway, the combination with the terminals andbuckets, ot' a bucket-carrier reciprocally mounted on said terminal andmeans including a duplex system oi' levers connected with said carrierfor gripping and moving and accelerating the speed ot' said buckets.

2. ln an automatictramway, the combination with the terminals and thebuckets, of a bucket-carrier reciprocally mounted on said terminal, agrip on said carrier for locking said carrier to said buckets and meansincluding a cli p-operated slide reciprocally mounted on said terminalfor gripping, starting and accelerating the speed of said buckets apredetermined distance on said terminals, substantially as described.

3. ln an automatic tramway, the combination with the terminal, thetraction-rope and clips and the buckets, of the bucket-slideway on theterminal, the bucket-accelerating slide, and means connected with saidbucket-accelerating slide for gripping, moving and accelerating themovement of the buckets for a predetermined distance along saidslideway, substantially as described.

4. ln an automatic tramway, the combination with the terminals, thetraction-rope and clips, the buckets and the clip guideway and slidewayon said terminal of the clip-slide adapted to be reciprocated apredetermined distance intermittently by said traction-rope and clips onsaid slideway, a slide reciprocally mounted on said slideway, meansconnected with said slide for gripping' and releasing a bucket and meansconnected with said slide for starting and moving and accelerating thespeed of said buckets, substantially as described.

5. In an automatic tramway the combination with the terminal providedwith a bucket loading or dumping station, the traction-rope, the clip,and the buckets, ot' a bucket starting and accelerating devicecomprising a slide reciprocally mounted on said terminal, a clipoperatedslide reciprocally mounted on said terminal and provided with dogsarranged to station and start and accelerate the speed of said buckets,substantially as described.

6. In an automatic tramway, the combination with the terminals', thetraction-rope and clips, and the buckets of a device reciprocallymounted on said terminal and adapted to receive and grip each'bucket asit enters said terminal and for moving each bucket to and releasing itat the standing-station, means for releasing said bucket from said clipwhen said slide receives and grips said bucket and a carrierreciprocally mounted on said terminal and arranged to grip, start andaccelerate the speed of each bucket at the bucket standingstation, andfor releasing said buckets and locking them to said clips whenthey haveattained a predetermined speed, substantially as described.

7. In an automatic tramway, the combination with the terminal, thetraction-rope and clips and the buckets, of a bucket-accelerating devicecomprising a clip-operated slide reciprocally mounted on said terminaladapted to be automatically attached to and released from said clips, abucket starting and accelerating slide reciprocally mounted on saidterminal provided with a bucket-gripping device adapted to engage andgrip to a bucket, and a suitable lever mechanism connected to saidslides, arranged and adapted to cause said clip-slide to cause saidbucket-slide to grip, start up and accelerate the speed of said bucketi'or a predetermined distance along said terminal, substantially asdescribed.

8. In an automatic tramway, the combination with the terminal, thetraction-rope, the rope-clip and the buckets, of means for attaching'and detaching the bucketto and from said clips at said terminals, aguideway on said terminal, a s'lideway on said guideway, a bucketreceiving' and gripping slide on said slideway, a clip-operated slidealso on said IZO IOO

slideway arranged and adapted to engage said clip after it has beenreleased from said buckets, a bucket-gripping slide on said slidewayarranged to grip said buckets, and a plurality of levers attached tosaid slides and arranged to catch and retard the incoming buckets, andbring' them to a stop at a predetermined point and to grip and start andaccelerate the speed ot said buckets substantially as described.

9. In an automatic tramway, the combination with the terminals, thetraction-rope and clips and the bucket, of a slideway on said terminal,a clip-operated slide slidably mounted on said slideway and adapted tobe engaged and carried along said slideway by said clips a predetermineddistance, a bucket receiving and gripping slide on said slideway at thebucket-entrance end ot' said tramway, means for releasing said clip fromsaid bucket when said bucket enters said bucket-gripping slide, meansinclud ing levers attached to said bucketgripping, and to saidclip-operating slides arranged and adapted to cause said clip-grippingslide to continuously retard the speed of said buckets and bring them torest and release them at the loading or dumping station of saidterminal, and a bucket starting and acceleratingI slide slidably mountedon said slideway, and means including levers operatively arranged andadapted and .attached to said bucket-starting slide, and saidclip-operating slide to cause said bucket-starting slide to grip saidbuckets at the loading and dumping station and start and acceleratetheir movement and release them ata predetermined point, and means forreleasing said clips from said clipoperating slide and for attachingsaid clips to said buckets at the point they are released by the bucketstarting and accelerating' slide, substantially as described.

l0. ln an automatic tramway, the combination of the terminal, thetraction-rope, and clips, the buckets, the clip-guideway and theslideway, with the bucket starting and accelerating slide vreciprocallymounted on said slideway and means including a clip-operated slidereciprocally mounted on said slideway for causing said bucket-slide tostart and accelerate the speed of said bucket, substantially asdescribed.

ll. In an automatic tramway the combination of the terminals, thetraction-rope and clip and the buckets, of thc slideway, thebucketreceiving slide and the clip-receiving slide reciprocally mountedon said slideway, with a slide reciprocally mounted on said slideway, alever pivotally attached at one end and having its opposite end arrangedto engage a bucket, and means including said traction-ro pe and clip anda system of levers for moving said slide to pick up, start, andaccelerate the movement of said buckets, substantially as described.

l2. In an automatic tramway, the combination of the terminal, thetraction-rope and clip, the buckets, the clip-guideway and the slideway,the bucket-receiving slide and the clip-slide mounted on said slideway,and the system of levers connecting said slides, with a bucket gripping,moving and accelerating slide reciprocally mounted on said slidewayhaving an arm pivoted to it at one end and adapted to engage saidbuckets with its free end and hold and release said buckets at apredetermined point on the reciprocal movement of said slide, a leverpivotally secured at one end to said clip-slide and means including` aplurality of levers connected with the free end of said lever and withsaid bucket-accelerating slide for engaging, starting and acceleratingthe speed of said buckets a predetermined distance along the length ofsaid terminal, substantially as described.

13. In an automatic tramway, the combination of the terminal, thetraction-rope and clips, the buckets, the clip-guideway, the slideway onthe guideway, the bucket-receiving slide, and the operating-levers, withthe bucketaccelerating slide, comprising a carrier reciprocally mountedon said slideway, an arm pivotally mounted on said carrier at one endhaving its free end projecting' into the path of said bucket, abucket-engaging' device on the free'end of said arm, a slideway on saidarm arranged in the path of said clips, a lever pivotally secured at oneend to said carrier, a curved slotted end in the opposite end of said.lever, an abutment-lever pivotally connected at one end to saidterminal, a lever pivotally connected at one end to the opposite end ofsaid abutment-lever and pivotally connected at its opposite end to saidclip-Slide, a lateral extension on said abutment-lever intermediate ot'its ends pivotally secured in the slotted end of said curved-endedlever, a second lateral extension on said abutment-lever intermediateoi' its ends, a lever pivotally secured at one end to said secondlateral extension of said abutment-lever and pivotally secured at itsopposite end to said curved-end lever, substantially as described.

14. In an automatic tramway the combination with the termin als having abucket-standing station, the clip-slide, the buckets and the guideway,the bucket receiving and gripping slide, the clip and bucket releasingguide-rods, the clip-operated slide and the bucket-retarding leversoperatively connected to said slides, or' a bucket engaging, startingand accelerating device comprising a slide reciprocally mounted on saidslideway, means connected to said slide for engaging and releasing abucket, a lever mechanism connected to said clip-slide and to saidterminal and arranged and adapted to cause said engaging slide to engagesaid buckets at said standing-station and to start, move andcontinuously accelerate the movement of said bucket for a predetermineddistance on said slideway and a spring-controlled stop in the path ofsaid buck- IOO and in unison with the operative movements of said slidesand of the passages of said clips through said terminal, substantiallyas described.

l5. In an automatic tramway, the combination with the terminal having abucket-stopping station, the clip-guideway, the tractionrope, thebuckets, and the slideway, of a bucket-stop at said stopping-station.comprising an arm pivotally secured intermediate of its end to saidterminal and arranged with one end normally in contact with a suitableabutment and having a spring arranged to normally hold its free end inthe path of a suitable part of said buckets, substantially as described.

16. In an automatic tramway, the combination with the terminals having abucket-stopping station comprising the traction-rope and clip` thebuckets and the track-rope and track means for releasing said clips fromthe buckets coming into said terminals from said trackropes, means forretarding the movement of said buckets and stopping them at thestanding-station, and means for automatically locking, holding andreleasing said buckets at their standing-station comprising an armpivotally mounted at one end to said terminal and having its free endnormally held across the path ot' said buckets at said standing-stationand adapted to define the limit of said buckets incoming' movement onsaid terminal and the starting-point of their outgoing movement andmeans for loading or dumping said buckets at said stopping-station, andfor starting said buckets and moving said arm out of their way andreturning it to its normal position and for accelerating the speed ofsaid buckets to about the speed of said tractionrope and for againattaching said buckets to said traction-rope, substantially asdescribed.

17. In an automatic tramway, the combination with the terminals thetraction-rope and the buckets, of a bucket stopping, holding andstanding' station on said terminals comprising a lever-spring controlledin one direction of its movement positioned at the said stopping-stationin the passing path of said buckets at the end of their run over thetramline and adapted to be moved aside by said buckets and to moveresiliently behind them and prevent their backward movement at'ter theyhave reached said stopping-station, and a swinging arm reboundinglypositioned normally across the path of said buckets and arranged andadapted to stop said buckets at said station, and means for detachingsaid buckets from said traction-rope and clips and for stopping, and forlloading or dumping, and for again starting, accelerating and againattaching said buckets to said traction-rope, substantially asdescribed.

18. In an automatictramway, the combination of the terminal, theclip-guideway and the slideway, the traction-rope and clips and thebuckets and means for locking and unlocking said clips to and from saidbuckets, with the bucket stopping' and holding dogs at thebucket-stopping station, and a slide reciprocally mounted on saidslideway, an arm pivotally connected at one end to said slide, aprojection on said buckets, a yoke-shaped hook or latch adapted toengage said projection on said buckets, an inclined plate on the treeend of said arm arranged in the traveling path ot' said traction-ropeclips and adapted to permit said clips to raise said arm and disengageit and said slide from said buckets at a predetermined point on saidslideway, and means including said clips for engaging, starting andmoving said buckets from said stopping-station and for attaching them tosaid tractionrope, substantially as described.

19. In an automatic tramway, the combination with the terminal having astopping-station, the slideway and clip-guideway, the traction-rope andclip and the buckets, of a bucketstarting slide reoiprocally mounted onsaid slideway, means connected with said bucketstarting slide forengaging said buckets at said bucket-stopping station, means includingsaid clips for holding, and releasing said buckets at the end of apredetermined movement ot' said slide and buckets along said slideway, a

lever pivotally secured at one end to said bucket-starting slide, .asubstantially rightangled curved end at the opposite end ot' said leverprovided with a curved slot, a lever pivotally secured at one end tosaid terminal, a cross-bar lateral extension on said lever intermediateof its ends, a pivotal connection between the end of one cross-bar andthe slotted curved end of said bucket-starting-slide-connecting lever, alever pivotally connected at one end to the end of the oppositecross-bar and at its opposite end pivotally connected to saidbucket-starting-slide-connecting lever intermediate of its ends, aclip-operated slide reciprocally mounted on said slideway, means forautomatically attaching said slides to and releasing them from each clipas they travel to the opposite ends oi' a predetermined reciprocalmovement oi' said clip-operated slide on said slideway, and a leverpivotally secu red at one end to said clip-slide and pivotally connectedat its opposite end to said cross-bar lever whereby said clipsintermittently reciprocate said clip-slide which causes said levers tostart and gradually accelerate the speed of said bucket-starting slidefor a predetermined distance along said slid eway from said bucketsstopping station, and means for releasing said buckets at the end ofsaid slides operative bucket-accelerating movement and Jfor returningsaid bucket-slide to engage a bucket at said standing-station and saidclip-operated slide and the said levers to their normal standingpositions, and means for connecting said IOO IlO

traction-rope and clips and buckets together at the point where saidbuckets are released from said bucket-starting slide, substantially asdescribed.

20. In an automatic tramway the combination with the terminals, thebuckets and the clip-guideway on said terminal, of the bucketstop leverpivotally secured to the bottom of said slideway, the abutment arrangedto engage one end of said lever and the spring arranged to normally holdone end of said lever in the passing-path of said buckets and itsopposite end against said abutment, substantially as described.

21. In an automatic tramway, the combination with the terminal and theclip-guideway, and the buckets, of a depending abutment on the bottom ofsaid guideway, a lever pivotw ally secured to the bottom of saidguideway, a spring arranged to resiliently hold one end of said lever inthe passing-path of said buckets and to hold the opposite end againstsaid abutment, substantially as described.

22. In an automatic tramway the combination with the terminal having abucket loading or dumping station and a clip-guideway on said terminaland the buckets, of the spring controlled lever pivotally secured to thebottom of said guideway at said station in the passing-path of saidbuckets, and adapted to be pushed aside by a passing bucket and toresiliently move behind said buckets as they reach the loading ordumping station and hold them against backward movement, substantiallyas described.

23. In an automatic tramway having a bucket loading or dumping station,the combination of the terminal and the buckets, of an arm pivotallysecured to one end of said terminal at right angles to the path ot' saidbuckets and having its free end extend across the path of said buckets,an abutment depending from said terminal, a bilder-spring secured tosaid arm and arranged to bear on said abutment and a weighted ropearranged and adapted to normally hold said arm against said abutment atsaid loading and dumping station, substantially as described.

24. In an automatic tramway, the combination with the buckets and theterminal having a iiXed bucket loading and dumping station comprising aswinging arm pivotally secured at one end to said terminal and extendingacross the path of said buckets at a predetermined point on saidterminal, of an abutment on said terminal, a weighted rope secured atone end to the free end of said arm and having its opposite end providedwith a weight arranged to normally hold the free end et' said armagainst said abutment and to stop an incoming, slowing-up bucket and topermit said arm to be swung by a bucket out ot its path at apredetermined time, a bu'licr secured between said arm and said abutmentand the stop-lever pivotally secured'to said terminal at a shortdistance from said arm toward the rear or incoming.;I bucket end of saidterminal having one end spring controlled and arranged to project intothe path ot' a passing bucket and to be moved aside by a passing bucketand toA drop behind it after it has passed between it and said stop-armwhereby said buckets are positively held against forward or rearwardmovement between said stops, substantially as described.

Q5. In an automatic tramway the combination with the terminal, thetraction-rope andy clips and the buckets, of a fixed bucket stopping andholding and leading or dumping station on said terminal comprising theswinging arm, the abutment, the butler-spring between said arm and saidabutment, and the weighted rope, and the spring-controlled stoplever,substantially as described.

26. In an automatic tramway the combination with the terminal having abucket loading or dumping station, the traction-rope and clip, thebuckets and the clip-operated slide, or' the bucket starting andaccelerating' device comprising the bucket-slide, the hooked lever onsaid slide adapted to grip a bucket at said loading and dumping station,the curved-ended lever. pivotally secured to said slide, the crossed-armabutment-lever pivotally secured at one end to said terminal and thelever pivotally secured at one end to the 'tree end of said cross-armedlever and pivotally secured at its opposite end to said clip-operatedslide, substantially as described.

27. In an automatic tramway, the combination with the terminal, the clipguideway and slideway and the clip-operated slide, et' thebucket-starting slide, brackets secured to said terminal, a verticalshaft journaled in said brackets, the horizontal crossed armabutment-lever pivotally secured at one end to said vertical shaft, thelever pivotally secured at one end to the free end ot' said cross-armed.abutn'ient-lever and the curved-ended lever pivotally secured at oneend to said slide and at its opposite end to said cross-armedabutment-lever, substantially as described.

.In testimony whereotI l atlix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

HARRY .I. LICSGHEN. Witnesses:

J I). SwENEY, E. l). Kiri.

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